Personal Spiritual Growth Of The Christ Follower. Part One!

How does a disciple of Jesus Christ (Christ follower) grow in his or her Christian life? What does it take to develop and mature in the faith? What is the Lord God doing in this process? What is the role of the Christ follower and what does a well-balanced Christian life look like? How can I make the decisions that bring glory and honor to the Lord? These are some of the questions that this as well as subsequent teachings are designed to answer. The purpose of these teachings are to strengthen and encourage you along your path of personal spiritual growth! The first aspect of growing in a close relationship with God is the cost of discipleship. Oswald Chambers shared these words: "The best measure of a spiritual life is not its ecstasies but its obedience." Let's examine the cost of discipleship. What is the definition of a disciple? A disciple is a DISCIPLINED learner. A disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ is one who LEARNS AND LIVES from the teachings of the Lord Himself and those whom the Lord directly taught (the apostles)! Listen to the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Regarding discipleship, he said, "Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ. It remains an abstract idea, a myth....The disciple places himself at the Master's disposal, but at the same time retains the right to dictate his own terms. But then discipleship is no longer discipleship, but a program of our own to be arranged to suit ourselves." Pastor Bonhoeffer hit the nail on the head! This type of attitude is rampant in the church! As Christ followers, we must understand and embrace that the call to spiritual growth is the call to be a disciple of Jesus Christ! It is a call to be more like Christ! It is a call to submit ourselves to the Lordship of Christ, where He, not us, directs our lives! The Lord Jesus summarized the cost of following Him with a powerful and vivid metaphor: "Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24). Your move. Be encouraged!